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Creating a travel checklist always requires a well-thought-out strategy. Peru, with its multifaceted environment, poses additional challenges. Peru appeals to eco-tourists, archaeology enthusiasts, culture seekers and adventure lovers, all of whom require different types of travel clothing and accessories. Your Peru travel checklist depends on where you intend to go and what you intend to do, but like most journeys to South America, be prepared for serendipitous side trips that were not on your original itinerary.

Passport

A valid U.S. passport, with an expiration date no less than six months away, is required for entry into Peru. If you still have the card that the government sends that lists your passport number, store it in a safe place. Make a photo copy of your passport and store it in a different safe place. Make another copy, along with a copy of your itinerary, and leave it with a trusted friend or family member back home. Prepare for any unforeseen and unfortunate events, such as losing your passport, by printing out the address and contact information for the U.S. Embassy in Peru.

Medications and First Aid

Bring along all of your prescription medications and jot down your prescription numbers on a separate piece of paper. Since some of your regular or occasional over-the-counter medications might not be available in Peru, bring your own with you. If you plan to spend a significant amount of mountain hiking, take a Boy Scout attitude and be prepared. Bring bug spray, bandages, ankle, wrist and knee support in the event of sprain or strain, and antibacterial ointment. Sunscreen is essential, especially for those traveling to high altitudes.

Preventative Prescription Medications for Peru

The CDC recommends preventative medicines against malaria, altitude sickness, diarrhea and yellow fever for some Peruvian destinations. The Peruvian Embassy recommends hepatitis A vaccine for travelers visiting all parts of the country, and the hepatitis B and yellow fever vaccine for anyone traveling to Amazonas, Loreto, San Martín, Ucayali, Junín and Madre de Dios and making prolonged contact with the local population. Check with your doctor before taking any medicines or vaccines. Get vaccinated for yellow fever at least 10 days before your visit.

Credit and Debit Cards

Pack your credit and debit cards and keep them in a safe but easily accessible place. Write down their numbers, along with the international toll-free number to call in the event of loss. Do this for every card. Before you leave, call every card company and advise that you are traveling to Peru and how long you intend to stay there. This is an extremely important precaution. If your card-issuing company does not know you are overseas, it might view any activity on your card as fraud and prohibit you from using it. If a card payment is due while you are in Peru, arrange with your bank to do an auto-payment on the due date.

Clothing

Whether you intend to walk through the urban streets of Lima or hike the rugged Inca Trail, sturdy walking and hiking shoes are essential. Hiking shoes should have strong ankle support. Zip-up hiking pants keep you warm and provide some protection against ankle-biting insects. A pair of thick socks prevents blisters, and a rain poncho and rain pants keep you comfortable in the rain forest. Bring casual, wrinkle-proof clothing for walking around the city, and one or two outfits for going out at night. Even if you don't swim, some hotels have outdoor hot tubs, so pack your bathing suit and a pair of flip-flops.

Camera and Electronics

The scenery in Peru begs to be photographed, so bring your camera, charger, back-up batteries and connection cords you need so that you can store your photos online. Purchase a sturdy camera case and a protective covering for your computer. Before you leave, set up a free Skype account and aske your friends and family to do the same. Skype allows you to make free calls over the Internet to anyone who also has Skype.

About the Author

My articles have appeared in Aspen Magazine, HerSports, The Professional Skier and other print and online publications. When I'm not teaching fitness or writing, I work at Copper Mountain and at the Breckenridge History Society.